'Wacky’ cake for dinner?
PLUS: Takeout turkey and the 5 angelic restaurants serving Thanksgiving this year.
‘Wacky’ cake for dinner?
Foodies with a sweet tooth party at SPAC Dec. 4, where dessert is the main course.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — Forget saving room for dessert — SPAC is throwing a party where digging into the sweet stuff is the main course. And we’re talking five-star, sinful, holiday-worthy confections from the top pastry chefs in town.
On the menu: caramelized white chocolate Texas sheet cake by Familiar Creature’s Michele Hunter, broiled banana pudding by Standard Fare’s Sam Pierre, and black forest trifle by Jeannette Liebers of Sweet Mimi’s. It’s also a rare chance to taste the handiwork of Austin Bayliss, the orchestrator of SPAC’s food events and a mean baker in her own right (trust me); she’s making “wacky” cake. Vanessa Traver of the Saratoga Reading Room and SUNY Schenectady is whipping up peanut butter & roasted red grape cheesecake squares (yes, please), and Dynia Mariano of SUNY Adirondack Culinary Arts is baking “pull-apart” shortcake (omg).
Each dessert is inspired by a recipe in a new book, Potluck Desserts: Joyful recipes to share with pride, which will be toasted at The Pines at SPAC on Thursday, Dec. 4.
“I’m always excited to see what spin chefs add to a recipe,” says the book’s author, Justin Burke, who will fly in from South Carolina, where he lives with his partner and son. “Do something that resonates with you. Make it your own. I’m always excited to see that.”
After the sweet feast, guests will hear from the writer and award-winning pastry chef, during an interview with WAMC’s Sarah LaDuke for a future broadcast on WAMC’s The Roundtable. With everyone on a sugar rush, I’m look forward to a lively Q&A session at the end.
“The book is a delightful combination of his own personal story — in a sort of memoir style — and fantastic recipes,” says Pam Abrams of the CulinaryArts@SPAC program. “It’s around the idea of sharing desserts with his chosen family and how potlucks were a place where he first became comfortable with his own identity.”
Burke’s personal journey in the book adds a powerful layer to all the festive, nostalgic ice box cakes and sheets of brownies.
“I have a recipe in the cookbook called ‘Cookies for Peter;’ Peter’s partner used to make them for me, and that’s how I learned about the Lavender Scare and Stonewall,” Burke says. “We’re seeing a shift culturally with food, away from ‘Instagram-worthy’ and back to the food’s narrative and a very delicious way of honoring its roots.”
The Thursday, Dec. 4 event starts at 7 p.m., so you can grab a light dinner beforehand — if you must. For more info and tickets, visit spac.org. See you there, Saratoga.
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Takeout turkey
Did Thanksgiving sneak up on you this year? You have until Monday to order these scrumptious takeway feasts.
Some of us love to cook, some of us love to eat — some lucky people do it all.
For those who prefer to do more of the eating, and less of the cooking — but still want a classic Thanksgiving at home — here’s who you can still call:
The Hideaway is offering a range of takeout menus, from classic turkey dinners that feed 4-6 for $54.99 to seafood lasagna. All choices include salad and rolls, and need to be picked up Wednesday, November 26. Order by Monday at noon.
Salt & Char is offering a serious feast for 4 ($255) or 6 ($385), including a whole turkey with elevated sides (like charred Brussels sprouts) and desserts. Available for pickup Wednesday or Thursday (before 11 a.m.). Order by Monday at 2 p.m.
Morton’s The Steakhouse is offering takeout, including two pounds of à la carte sides like sour cream mashed potatoes and savory sage and cranberry stuffing for $25 each, plus a full Thanksgiving meal with turkey and a panoply of sides that serves 4 to 6 people for $129. Pre-orders recommended.
Today’s Dish-y Dispatch is brought to you by…
⭐ Last 100 tickets left! ⭐
Opera Saratoga presents La bohème, a concert version of Puccini’s timeless masterpiece. Featuring local and national talent, this first-ever holiday production brings together the magic of Juilliard, The Met and Skidmore. More than 500 tickets sold — grab one of the last 100 to be a part of this electric evening!
🎭 UPH | Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
🎟️ Tickets: atuph.org
Eager to eat Thanksgiving dinner, but not at home?
5 places in Saratoga Springs happy to do the cooking — and cleanup — for you
Reporters, first responders, healthcare professionals, retail and service workers all have had to work on Thanksgiving at some point. And speaking from personal experience, the last thing you want to do when the workday is done is fire up the oven.
If that’s your situation, or if you just feel like getting out of the house for Thanksgiving, here’s where to find professionals willing to make you a killer turkey, with all the fixings.
Morton’s The Steakhouse is offering dine-in four course meals for $69 a pop. Between the butternut squash bisque, fall harvest salad, roasted turkey roulade with all the sides, and a pecan streusel cheesecake for dessert, you won’t leave hungry! Reservations recommended.
The Diamond Club at Embassy Suits is serving a lunch buffet from 1 pm to 4 pm for $48 for adults and $18 for kids 10 and under, and a dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with table service for $52 per person.
Chez Pierre in Gansevoort is serving up a classic Thanksgiving feast for $48 from 4 pm to 8 pm, plus the regular dinner is available, if you prefer classic French. Reserve the turkey dinner ahead.
The Wishing Well is rolling out the red carpet for Thanksgiving guests from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Check out the menu here, with prices based on choices, from turkey with all the fixings ($50) to filet mignon ($55) or a half roast duck ($49).
Prime Restaurant is offering dine-in options from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, for $72 for anyone 13 and up, $30 for ages 3 to 12, with 2 and under eating free. Guests get a choice of appetizers, a fully-loaded family-style turkey dinner with all the sides, and a family style dessert with apple and pumpkin pie + cheesecake.
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